James Orbinski

James Orbinski

Nobel Peace Prize recipient on behalf of Doctors Without Borders

Dr. James Orbinski practices clinical medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto. He has had extensive field experience with Médecins Sans Frontiéres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and was the president of this international organization when it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its pioneering approach to medical humanitarianism. Dr. Orbinski worked as MSF’s Head of Mission in Kigali during the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, Canada’s highest civilian award, for providing “an extraordinary service by delivering medical assistance and alleviating the suffering of victims on both sides of the front line… Through example, he provided inspirational leadership to a multinational team of medical staff and managed to spur their flagging spirits through the bleakest days of the genocide.” Dr. Orbinski is a founding board member of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Canadian Doctors for Medicare.